Minnesota Vikings Live Chat with Dan Wiederer at noon Friday

Join football writer Dan Wiederer for a Live Chat on the Vikings as they prepare for their preseason opener tonight at the Metrodome.

While you're waiting, here's a video on the new NFL bag rules in place at the Metrodome starting tonight.

by Star Tribune Sports8/9/2013 4:19:12 PM

OK. Getting this thing started. Gonna do my best to get to as much as possible between now and 1. New system we're using for this one. So hopefully I'll adjust quickly. Let's do this ...

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:01:47 PM

So hiw much of a qb controvery is there???

by TJacker8/9/2013 5:03:39 PM

At present? None. As I've said before, Christian Ponder is 100 percent the opening day starter. And barring injury, he'll be the starter through London and the bye. At that point, he'll remain the starter unless there's a monumental failure for four straight weeks. But keep an eye on his production in preseason games 2 and 3 for progress checks. And watch Cassel closely as well.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:04:52 PM

Tell us how you really feel about this whole Greg Jennings thin, Dan.

by Joe from Lino Lakes8/9/2013 5:04:55 PM

Trolling. Early in the chat. I love it. Think I've made my thoughts on Jennings pretty clear. This week's "controversy" was 100 percent ridiculous. And most ironic, I thought, was Packers fans telling Jennings to get over it and move on yet still totally obsessed with every little jab or perceived shot he takes at his former team.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:05:54 PM

by Star Tribune Sports8/9/2013 5:06:05 PM

I have been on record as saying the criticism of Rodgers was both petty but honest. Very forthright and candid. Jennings isn't perfect. He's a team-first guy with plenty of self awareness and a desire to prove to people that he's elite. Sometimes those things cause him to be a little bitter, a little fragile, a little goofy with what he says. But I'll take a guy who answers direct questions directly any day. Let's hope the games start soo.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:07:28 PM

Hi Dan. Cordarrelle Patterson he has great size, speed and hands. I keep hearing about giving him end arounds, bubble screens etc. Why not just let him loose downfield and let him run under a bomb or two like Moss? I'm sure he can figure out how take off downfield. Your thoughts?

by Glenn8/9/2013 5:07:34 PM

Good question. And oh yeah, that will definitely be in the plans. With Adrian in the backfield, there's no question the Vikings will try to unlock the code to the deep ball riddle better than they did in 2012. And part of that is sending CP deep. His rawness comes from his understanding of route running and defense recognition. So in the immediate future, they have to work around that.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:08:49 PM

How do the draftees look, and who will make the biggest impact!!! I have to say that I am really excited to see all three play. They seem to be the real deal

by Lonny from SD8/9/2013 5:08:52 PM

In my opinion, I have to believe Sharrif Floyd will be the guy whose impact will show up most right away. But this isn't like last year where Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith had no one blocking their path to the starting lineup. Floyd has Kevin Williams in front of him. Xavier Rhodes still hasn't overtaken Josh Robinson as the second CB starter. And Patterson will be mixed in w Jennings, Wright, Simpson.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:10:14 PM

Overall, I think Floyd is ready physically and mentally to get in and make the most of his time early.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:10:33 PM

Hi Dan, How close are the Vikings to losing patience with DeMarcus Love ?

by Marc Noel8/9/2013 5:10:40 PM

Let's put it this way: The first wave of cuts will come Aug. 27. Roster goes from 90 to 75. Four days after that, from 75 to 53. Demarcus best be searching for an exit strategy.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:11:17 PM

Who do you think will be starting WLB week 1?

by bakkenshale8/9/2013 5:11:26 PM

This is an absolutely fantastic question. The best-case scenario is that it's Bishop. But there's reason to be awfully worried about that right now. The guy missed all of 2012 w a hamstring issue and is now sidelined early in camp with the groin problem. If you miss too much time in camp, especially as a brand new arrival learning the system and your teammates, it's hard to catch back up in a timely manner. See: Carlson, John. Bishop needs to be back on the field by the second preseason game to have any chance of starting right way, in my opinion. So after all that long-winded goodness, your answer is ... Marvin Mitchell.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:13:34 PM

The Vikes have been pretty lucky so far with injuries. At what specific defensive position can the Vikings least afford an injury to a starter? It seems like there is little proven depth in the linebacker and secondary units.

by DUKEofDUBUQUE8/9/2013 5:13:42 PM

It's not the secondary, so much as it's CB. At safety, there's really, really good depth there. Though if the injury hit Harrison Smith, it'd be far worse for the Vikings than if Jamarca Sanford went down. At CB, this week we had Xavier Rhodes and A.J. Jefferson missing time with injuries which at times left Brandon Burton as one of the three CBs on the field with the first-unit nickel. That is not a great look. And Jacob Lacey is now dealing with an injury issue as well after missing chunks of the OTAs and mini-camp w a hand problem. It could get dicey. Quick.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:15:33 PM

All this talk about the final 1 or 2 WR's to make the cut.. Do you think the Vikings will instead only carry 2 QB's (Ponder and Cassell) and guarantee Webb a WR spot? This will allow at least 1-2 more WR to make the roster (+ Webb). Then if worst comes to worst you can always fall back on Webb for 3rd string if both 1 & 2 QB's go down. From what I've seen from MBT in previous pre-seasons he is taking up a roster spot that can be used for an athlete such as Webb, Thielen, or Burton.

by MCP8/9/2013 5:16:00 PM

The plan is to train Webb as a WR from here on out. No delusions of putting him back into a QB role. So, no, you wouldn't mess with your roster in a way where you'd only keep two QBs. You need three for practice reps and scout team. And say, in Week 1, Ponder were to blow out his ACL. Suddenly, you've got Cassel starting and a back-up who hasn't taken a QB snap since January.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:17:07 PM

Who makes the highlight reel play tonight?

by Michael8/9/2013 5:17:23 PM

Fantastic question. Bottom half of the roster question. I'm going with Adam Thielen, WR. Will come in the fourth quarter. The guy has nice hands and good athleticism. If I were assembling my roster, I'd have him on the practice squad plan. Get a good look at him this evening.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:18:22 PM

I hope Webb will be on the team has a wr, can he?

by nightowl798/9/2013 5:18:29 PM

I personally believe they're looking for every reason to keep Webb around as opposed to searching for reasons to cut him. I think they see so much raw athleticism and his exuberance and work ethic are infectious. But eventually, he's going to have to show he can be a difference maker in game action. These preseason games are vital to his future.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:19:22 PM

What position battles should we be watching in the preseason?

by TheGnat8/9/2013 5:19:34 PM

These are sharp questions on the day of the preseason opener. We've hit on a few of them ...

Not a question but a comment: bravo on your rant regarding Greg Jennings brain washing comment and the ensuing made up controversy. Please do more of that as warranted. Plenty agree with you and appreciate someone in your position, and profession, actually saying it.

by Jake8/9/2013 5:21:50 PM

I know there are some in the media that are trigger shy to take shots at other media outlets and other coverage. I understand that. But I feel an obligation to be fair to the people we cover and won't stand by idly when guys are ripped from afar without full justification. Learned this during my time covering college basketball and Coach K. Also, remember the Chad Greenway "super-duper drunk" silliness from last December. Spoke up then too.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:23:18 PM

I have seen multiple sports booking sites as well as other journalist having the Vikings the longest shot to win the division between the 4 NFC North teams. How is a 10-6 team from last year who fixed several areas in the draft considered the long shot of the entire NFC North?

by Judd Zulgad's Hoodie8/9/2013 5:23:36 PM

Really, really, really strong division. You could put all four teams in a hat, pick them out in any combination possible and that could be the final standings. Go ahead and do that today. Let me know what you come up with. Especially now with the injury bug in Green Bay. The Vikings had A LOT go right last year. The best player in football had the best season of his career. A sixth-round kicker made 10 FGs without a miss from 50+. They pulled out a handful of either-way wins last season. They have an unproven stable of CBs and will dearly miss Winfield. They're the one team in the division with plenty of questions about their starting QB. So yeah, 6-10 is certainly possible without the right breaks.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:25:40 PM

What are the expectations for Everson Griffen this season? Will the Vikings look at giving him a contract extension before he hits free agency?

by JBenTup8/9/2013 5:25:47 PM

Griffen has had a fantastic camp. Poor Phil Loadholt has had his hand full at times. All that freakish athleticism and hunger that Griffen showed last year seems to be elevating. I wouldn't see an extension necessarily coming in-season. Mostly because there are a lot of moving parts at DE with Jared, Robison and Lawrence Jackson all entering contract years as well. But at season's end, some BIG BIG decisions will be needed on that d-line. So long as Griffen doesn't get into off-field trouble or take an unexpected step back, he should be part of the long-term plans.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:27:49 PM

Is Marvin Mitchell really a starting caliber linebacker?

by Mark8/9/2013 5:28:03 PM

Serviceable as a two-down guy. Stepped in last year while Henderson was out for a couple games and played very well. He's not a star by any means. But again, to play 45% of the snaps as a WLB in base? Doable.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:28:48 PM

Has Brandon Fusco improved enough that the coaches trust him to be an every down player?

by Bruised purple fan8/9/2013 5:28:56 PM

Yes. They trust him again. He turned a corner late last season and realizes that his grip on his starting job isn't that tight. That's motivation for him to continue growing. Vikings don't want to be in a RG platoon again. That's not good for anybody.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:29:44 PM

Any insight on the 3rd RB? Do you think we stick with Asiata like last year, or go with a smaller quicker back?

by Polarman8/9/2013 5:29:54 PM

Good question. But one I'd rather revisit after the third preseason game when we get a look at a few of these other guys under the lights.

by Dan Wiederer8/9/2013 5:30:19 PM

Dan, give us your candid thoughts on how you think Ponder will do at QB this season? Better WR roster help him turn the corner?